Pelargonium plant named ‘Duesapi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal  Geranium  plant named ‘Duesapi’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading plant habit; freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; semi-double light red purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium zonale.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUESAPI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of ZonalGeranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium zonale, and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Duesapi’.

The new Zonal Geranium plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new compact Zonal Geranium plants withdark green-colored leaves and attractive flowers.

The new Zonal Geranium plant originated from a cross-pollination made bythe Inventor in August, 2005 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietaryselection of Pelargonium zonale identified as code No. Z02-0005-001, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofPelargonium zonale identified as code No. F-02-18, not patented, as themale, or pollen, parent. The new Zonal Geranium plant was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Zonal Geranium plant by vegetativeterminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg,Germany since May, 2007, has shown that the unique features of this newZonal Geranium plant are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Duesapi’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Duesapi’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofZonal Geranium:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Freely basal branching habit.    -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Semi-double light red purple-colored flowers.    -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of thefemale parent selection in plant habit as plants of the new ZonalGeranium are more compact than plants of the female parent selection. Inaddition, plants of the new Zonal Geranium have darker green-coloredleaves than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of themale parent selection in growth habit as plants of the new ZonalGeranium are more vigorous and more freely branching than plants of themale parent selection.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium can be compared to plants ofPelargonium zonale ‘Ballurpinzle’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.18,058. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rheinberg, Germany,plants of the new Zonal Geranium differed primarily from plants of‘Ballurpinzle’ in growth habit as plants of the new Zonal Geranium weremore vigorous than plants of ‘Ballurpinzle’. In addition, plants of thenew Zonal Geranium had smaller leaves than plants of ‘Ballurpinzle’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Zonal Geranium plant, showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Zonal Geranium plant.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical floweringplant of ‘Duesapi’ grown in a 10.5-cm container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown in Rheinberg, Germany in aglass-covered greenhouse during the summer and under conditions whichclosely approximate commercial production. During the production of theplants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levelsaveraged 4,500 lux. Plants were pinched one time three weeks afterplanting. Plants had been growing for two months when the photograph andthe description were taken. In the detailed description, colorreferences are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart,1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium zonale ‘Duesapi’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Pelargonium zonale identified as code No. Z02-0005-001, not            patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Pelargonium            zonale identified as code No. F-02-18, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at            temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at            temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures of 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   General appearance.—Upright to outwardly spreading plant            habit; uniformly rounded; densely foliated.        -   Growth and branching habit.—Moderately vigorous growth            habit; freely basal branching habit with about three basal            branches developing per plant.        -   Plant height.—About 20 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 22 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 6 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Internode length: About 3.2 cm. Texture: Slightly pubescent.            Strength: Strong. Color: Close to 144A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.        -   Length.—About 7.8 cm.        -   Width.—About 9.4 cm.        -   Shape.—Reniform.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:            Close to 147A; venation, close to 147A. Developing and fully            expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137B to 137C;            venation, close to 144A. Zonation pattern: Not observed.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 10.9 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement.—Semi-double rotate flowers arranged in            rounded hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils.            Umbels displayed above the foliage on moderately strong            peduncles. Flowers face upright to outward.        -   Fragrance.—Not detected.        -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 20            flowers per umbel.        -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In            outdoor nurseries and gardens in Germany flowering is            continuous from spring throughout the summer.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to            seven days on the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Umbel height.—About 6 cm.        -   Umbel diameter.—About 10 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 4.5 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 2 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm.            Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 66D.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About five or six. Length:            About 2.7 cm. Width: About 2.4 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex:            Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Aspect: Mostly            flat. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 66A. When            opening, lower surface: Close to 66D. Fully opened, upper            surface: Close to 66B to 66C; central spot, close to 66A;            color becoming close to 66C with development; at the base,            close to 155D; venation, close to 66B to 66C. Fully opened,            lower surface: Close to 66D.        -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: About three. Length: About            2.6 cm. Width: About 2.1 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded.            Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper            surface: Close to 66A. When opening, lower surface: Close to            66D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 66B to 66C;            central spot, close to 66A; color becoming close to 66C with            development; at the base, close to 155D; venation, close to            66B to 66C. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 66D.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five, arranged in a single            whorl. Length: About 1.4 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape:            Lanceolate. Apex: Apiculate. Base: Attenuate. Margin:            Entire. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.        -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 21 cm. Diameter: About            2 mm to 4 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Close to 59A.        -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 2.6 cm.            Diameter: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong.            Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 59A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:            About ten. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape: Oval.            Anther color: Close to 35A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen            color: Close to 28A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per flower:            One. Pistil length: About 9 mm. Stigma shape: Parted. Stigma            color: Close to 61B. Style length: About 2 mm. Style color:            Close to 61B.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Zonal    Geraniums.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have been    observed to tolerate rain, wind, and temperatures ranging from about    5° C. to about 40° C. and have demonstrated good garden performance.

1. A new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Duesapi’ as illustrated and described. 